Bwambale Mucunguzi Vs. Uganda (Crim. Appeal No. 96 of 2006) [2010] UGCA 44 (7 November 2010)

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\li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid15232593 \f36\fs22\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\b\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12132307\charrsid15232593 THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA \par IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF UGANDA AT MBARARA \par \par }{\b\f0\fs24\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12132307\charrsid15232593 CRIMINAL APPEAL NO.96 OF 2006 \par \par }\pard \s15\qj \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid15232593 {\b\f0\fs24\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12132307\charrsid15232593 \par }{\b\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12132307\charrsid15232593 BWAMBALE MUCUNGUZI................................................................... APPELLANT \par }{\b\f0\fs24\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12132307\charrsid15232593 \par }\pard \s15\qc \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid15232593 {\b\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12132307\charrsid15232593 V E R S U S \par }\pard \s15\qj \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid15232593 {\b\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12132307\charrsid15232593 \par UGANDA ....................................................................................... RESPONDENT \par \par \par CORAM: \tab HON. JUSTICE A. TWINOMUJUNI, JA \par }\pard \s15\qj \fi720\li720\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin720\itap0\pararsid15232593 {\b\f0\fs24\lang1053\langfe1033\langnp1053\insrsid12132307\charrsid15232593 HON. JUSITCE S. B. K. KAVUMA, JA \par }{\b\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12132307\charrsid15232593 HON. JUSTICE M. S.. ARACH AMOKO, JA \par }\pard \s15\qj \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid15232593 {\b\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12132307\charrsid15232593 \par }{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12132307\charrsid15232593 \par Mr. Vincent Okwanga Senior Principal State Attorney for the respondent. \par Ms Matovu }{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid16275452\charrsid15232593 Suwayah for}{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12132307\charrsid15232593 the appellant on State brief \par }{\f0\fs24\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12132307\charrsid15232593 Ms }{\f0\fs24\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid16275452\charrsid15232593 Suwayah}{\f0\fs24\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12132307\charrsid15232593 : \par }{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12132307\charrsid15232593 I will take 10 minutes. This is an appeal from conviction and }{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid16275452\charrsid15232593 sentence}{ \f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12132307\charrsid15232593 in Fort }{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid16275452\charrsid15232593 Portal}{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12132307\charrsid15232593 for }{ \f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid16275452\charrsid15232593 defilement}{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12132307\charrsid15232593 . }{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid16275452\charrsid15232593 Appellant}{ \f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12132307\charrsid15232593 was convicted and sentence}{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15232593 d}{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12132307\charrsid15232593 to 16 years in pris} {\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15232593 on. I will only appeal against sentence.}{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12132307\charrsid15232593 \par \par }{\f0\fs24\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12132307\charrsid15232593 Ms Suwayah:}{\f0\fs24\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15232593 \par }{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12132307\charrsid15232593 I apply for leave to appeal against sentence only.}{\f0\fs24\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12132307\charrsid15232593 \par }{\f0\fs24\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15232593 \par }{\f0\fs24\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12132307\charrsid15232593 Court:}{\f0\fs24\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15232593 \par }{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12132307\charrsid15232593 Leave granted.}{\f0\fs24\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12132307\charrsid15232593 \par }{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15232593 \par \par }{\f0\fs24\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12132307\charrsid15232593 Ms Suwayah: \par \par }{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid16593672\charrsid15232593 Sixteen (}{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12132307\charrsid15232593 16}{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid16593672\charrsid15232593 )}{ \f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12132307\charrsid15232593 years on the appellant was too harsh and excessive. You can interfere with sentence if it is too harsh. The appellant was aged 18 years at the time of the }{ \f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid16275452\charrsid15232593 offence}{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12132307\charrsid15232593 and the victim was four years. This age is characterised by }{ \f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid16275452\charrsid15232593 adventuring}{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12132307\charrsid15232593 . The appellant }{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15232593 is }{ \f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12132307\charrsid15232593 a first offender. He pleaded }{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid16275452\charrsid15232593 guilty}{ \f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12132307\charrsid15232593 and was on remand for }{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid16593672\charrsid15232593 one and}{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12132307\charrsid15232593 } {\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid16593672\charrsid15232593 a }{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12132307\charrsid15232593 half years. He }{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid16275452\charrsid15232593 deserved}{ \f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12132307\charrsid15232593 a }{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid16275452\charrsid15232593 lenient}{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12132307\charrsid15232593 sentence. Pray you reduce the sentence to two years especially because he was too young himself. \par \par }{\f0\fs24\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12132307\charrsid15232593 Mr. Vincent Okwanga: \par \par }{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12132307\charrsid15232593 I }{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid16275452\charrsid15232593 support}{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12132307\charrsid15232593 the sentence. The maximum sentence was death. He was only given 16 years. Though he is a young man of 18 years, he should not have been vent}{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14041556\charrsid15232593 ur}{ \f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12132307\charrsid15232593 ing by molesting a child of four. The }{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid16275452\charrsid15232593 sentence}{ \f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12132307\charrsid15232593 was not too harsh. The trial judge gave reasons.}{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14041556\charrsid15232593 The offences against children are too rampant. The trial judge considered all possible mitigation factors. We do not ask for enhancement and }{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8732401\charrsid15232593 pray you }{ \f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14041556\charrsid15232593 uphold the sentence as was imposed.}{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12132307\charrsid15232593 \par }{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14041556\charrsid15232593 \par }{\f0\fs24\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14041556\charrsid15232593 Ms Matovu }{\f0\fs24\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid16275452\charrsid15232593 Suwayah}{\f0\fs24\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14041556\charrsid15232593 :

\par \par }{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14041556\charrsid15232593 Nothing to add. \par }{\b\f0\fs24\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14041556\charrsid15232593 R U L I N G: \par \par }{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid16275452\charrsid15232593 We have listened to Ms. Matovu Suwayah counsel for the appellant. }{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14041556\charrsid15232593 We have also heard from Mr. Vincent Okwanga for the State. Defilement is a very serious offence. This type carried a sentence of death at the time it was committed. It is true }{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid16275452\charrsid15232593 that}{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14041556\charrsid15232593 the appellant was a young man of 18 years but we cannot accept that by that age, he had any justification whatsoever to venture into assaulting female children of any age. To hold so would be to give a }{ \f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid16275452\charrsid15232593 licence}{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14041556\charrsid15232593 to adolescents to assault the children with impunity. We think the trial judge considered all possible mitigating circumstances and arrived }{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15232593 at }{ \f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14041556\charrsid15232593 a correct sentence. We see no justification to disturb it. We uphold the sentence}{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid16275452\charrsid15232593 of 16 years. The appeal is accordingly dismissed.}{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14041556\charrsid15232593 \par }{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid16275452\charrsid15232593 \par Dated at Mbarara this 8}{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\super\langnp2057\insrsid16275452\charrsid15232593 th}{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid16275452\charrsid15232593 }{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15232593 day of }{ \f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid16275452\charrsid15232593 November 2010. \par \par }\pard \s15\ql \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid15232593 {\f0\fs24\insrsid16275452\charrsid15232593 ........................................................... \par Hon. Justice A. Twinomujuni \par }{\b\f0\fs24\ul\insrsid16275452\charrsid15232593 JUSTICE OF APPEAL \par }{\f0\fs24\insrsid16275452\charrsid15232593 \par \par ................................................................. \par Hon. Justice S. B. K. Kavuma \par }{\b\f0\fs24\ul\insrsid16275452\charrsid15232593 JUSTICE OF APPEAL. \par }{\f0\fs24\insrsid16275452\charrsid15232593 \par \par \par ....................................................... \par Hon. Justice M. S. Arach Amoko \par }{\b\f0\fs24\ul\insrsid16275452\charrsid15232593 JUSITCE OF APPEAL. \par }\pard \s15\qj \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid15232593 {\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14041556\charrsid15232593 \par }{\f0\fs24\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12132307\charrsid15232593 \par }\pard\plain \ql \li0\ri0\sa200\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid15232593 \f36\fs22\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\f0\fs24\insrsid15689097\charrsid15232593 \par }}